Feed for cigar bunch machines



J. P. DURNING 2,306,381

Fil ed March 1, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 i| I. G 7 N Z] J 2 M H ,2 H R A un f 4 R 6 D N 7 2 J Wm. MP W a a 5w Wm H 13M 22 M A z Haw Z .2 H v" 1, ep .l V I Z W 2" v 51 0 5 w v 4Q I Dec. 29, 1942.

FEED FOR CIGAR BUNCH MACHINES Dec. 29, 1942. J. P. DURNING FEED FORCIGAR BUNCH MACHINES Filed March 1, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 PIC-3.2

|l||||Ii||||||l||| l hx lllllllklll Il /m1 INVENTOR JAMES P. DURNING r II |l ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1942. J. P. DURNING FEED FOR CIGAR B UNCHMACHINES Filed March 1, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY JAMES RDURNING Il I 1366- 1942- J. P. DURNING FEED FOR CIGAR BUNCH MACHINES Filed March1, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q l Q ATTORNEY INVENTOR 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. P.BURNING FEED FOR CIGAR BUNCH MACHINES Filed March 1, 1938 Dec. 2%, i942.

m 9 F i w M W Z INVENTOR JAMES P. DURNBNG ATTORNEY 1942- J. P. BURNING2,396,381

FEED FOR CIGAR BUNCH MACHINES Filed March 1, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 ZZZINVENTOR JAMES 5 0 DURNENG I l f m ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1942. J. P. DURNlNGFEED FOR CIGAR BUNCH MACHINES Filed March -l, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 7INVENTOR JAMES P.D RNING ATTORNEY 1942- .J. P. DURNING 2,306,381

FEED FOR CIGAR BUNCH MACHINES Filed March 1, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 n.'Qli INVENTO R JAMES P. DURNIN BYW ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1942. J. P. DURNINGFEED FOR CIGAR BUNCH MACHINES Filed March 1, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 9Patented Dec. 29, 1942 FEED FOR CIGAR BUNCH MACHINES James P. Durning,St. Albans, N. Y., assignor to International Cigar Machinery Company, acorporation of New Jersey Application March 1, 1938, Serial No. 193,244

56 Claims.

ble, that is, that the smaller pieces and larger pieces be fed togetherand that one size be not separated from the other as the tobacco isbeing advanced to a charge forming mechanism. Accordingly, in thepresent invention, a feed has been developed in which tobacco is fedwith great uniformity to a measuring device wherein the tobacco piecesare subsequently formed into bunch charges.

The invention consists in an open hopper having a bottom portion,tobacco confining walls, a discharge end, and a transverse dividing stepwhich in effect divides th hopper into two sep-. arate sections:' atobacco confining section and a discharge portion over which tobacco fedfrom the confining section is advanced to a weighing device.

It is a further object of the invention, therefore, to provide a noveltobacco feeding hopper and to furnish means for feeding tobaccotherefrom, such for instance as vibratory mechanism which vibrates thehopper in order to advance tobacco from the hopper to bunch forminginstrumentalities.

It is a further object of the invention to provide mechanism forconfining tobacco in the storage section of the hopper and to cause thismechanismto control the advance of tobacco from the confining over thedischarge section of the hopper.

This mechanism consists of a plurality of sets of rakes arranged forrelative movement directly in front of the step portion of the hopperand with their ends either below or in the plane of the hopper bottomabove the step so that tobacco confined in the hopper can not moveforward from its confinement therein beneath the fingers and can,therefore, only be fed when there is a relative motion imparted to therakes.

In order to properly maintain the face of the tobacco in the confiningsection there is provided a set of auxiliary fingers which may be raisedor lowered to assist in the confining of tobacco in the hopper and alsoto prevent an excessive feed of tobacco therefrom.

The invention also consists in the provision of intermittently operatedtobacco feed control rakes and means for adjusting the speed of the rakemovement while at the same time the stroke of the rakes remainsconstant.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for vibratingthe hopper and controlling the rake movement in order that a thin streamof tobacco may be fed from the hopper to a charge weighing device. Thisresults in the formation of more perfect bunches due to the fact thatsubstantially all the pieces of tobacco discharged from the stream intothe weighing device will tend to lie parallel one to the other duringthe feeding and subsequent operations.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved tobaccoweighing mechanism wherein the scale pan may be set to take a fixedcharge and be of such a shape that tobacco particles fed thereto will beself-aligned.

It is also-an object of the invention to provide a tobacco chargeweighing mechanism which has associated therewith means for controllingThe invention also consists of the provision of -a distributing plateassociated with the tobacco weighing scale pan, which plate performs thefunctions of distributing charges and maintaining in alignment tobaccodischarged from the scale pan into the bunch forming mechanism.

It has been found when handling short filler tobacco that it tends towork beneath and above the plunger of the tobacco compression chamberand severely interfere with the most eflicient operation of the machine.It is a further object, therefore, of the invention to provide meansforming a part of the compression chamber which allows the plunger to besubstantially selfcleaning so that at the end of each rearwardlyreciprocating stroke any tobacco tending to cling to any part of theplunger will be removed therefrom, thereby obviating the necessity ofstopping the machine to clear this particular part.

A further object of the invention, therefore, is the provision offingers at the rearof the compression chamber which allows the plungerin said chamber to clear itself of tobacco particles tending to adherethereto in order to withdraw any waste particles which have beenstripped from the plunger. A receptacle may be provided for receivingthis waste. and if desired this receptacle may take the form of apneumatic conduit, which when provided with a conveying fluid draws of!any waste particles present.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic means forstopping the feed of tobacco from the hopper in the event that the gateof the compression chamber is open. This improvement consists of a camwhich engages a member that forces the scale pan down and thereby opensan electric circuit stopping the feed from the hopper.

The invention further consists in the provision of means for detectingthe presence of a sufficient quantity of tobacco in the compressionchamber, and if the quantity is above a set amount preventing the feedof additional tobacco thereto. Whenever an insufficient quantity oftobacco is present in the compression chamber, automatic operatingdetecting mechanism is set into operation, reacts to the lack of theproper quantity and causes the trap door of the tobacco compressionchamber to effect the feed of further tobacco into the charge measuringchamber.

The invention also contemplates the provision of improved cuttingmechanism, comprising a knife which can be rapidly removed from themachine for replacement or sharpening, and means so mounting the knifethat if an obstruction is present in the tobacco being cut, the knifewill yield and thereby avoid destruction to it or its cutting edge.

The invention also consists in the provision of electric control meanswhich brings the machine and its associated element to a complete stopon each cycle of the machine, and in addition thereto, a manual controldevice is provided to continue the operation of the machine at the willof the operator regardless of the operation of the automatic controlmeans.

The invention also has an object in the provision of means for creatingsuction in the suction chamber of the bunch rolling apron mechanism andalso in the pneumatic waste removal duct adjacent the rear of thecompression chamber together with means for. diverting the suction fromsaid chamber to said duct and conversely.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain constructions and combinations which willbe hereinafter fully described and then set forth in the claims hereuntoappended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. i is a partial side elevation of the machine;

Fig.2 is a front elevation of the knife, the transfer and the bunchrolling mechanisms and their respective drives, taken on line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional front elevation of the machine taken on line 3-3of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the vibrating hopp Fig. 5 is a sectionalplan view of the rake control mechanism, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4:

Fig. 6 is a sectional front elevation of the vibrating hopper, taken online 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Figure 6a is a sectional view taken on line 6a-6a of Figure 6;

Fig. '7 is a sectional plan view of the rake arrangement taken on line1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation of the scale,

fir

the guide chute, the magazine, the knife and the transfer mechanisms ofthe machine;

Fi 9 is a sectional end elevation of the scale supporting andcontrolling mechanisms. taken on line 9-8 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view, taken on line il-II of Fig. 9, showingthe guide arrangement of the scale plate;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the scale. taken on line I l-l I of Fig.9;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the transfer guide and controllingmechanism, taken on line lI-II of Fig. 2;

Fig. 13 is a sectional front elevation showing the magazine controlmechanism;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 15 is a partial plan view of the rear end of the magazine; and

Fig. 16 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical connections of themachine.

The machine consists of a bed plate 20 suitably mounted upon twosupporting frames 1! and is driven by means of a motor 22 (Fig. 3)mounted ona bracket 23 held by one of the frames 2i. Motor shaft 24carries a pulley 2B which, by means of 'a belt ll drives a pulley 21mounted on a shaft 24 driving through a clutch (not shown). a set ofconventional reduction gears (not shown). supported in and enclosed by ahousing 29 which is mounted on one of the frames II. A shaft illconnected to said gear train and projecting from housing 28 carries agear 3| meshing with gear 32 mounted on the main cam shaft 33 supportedby bearings in frames 2|.

The short filler tobacco is deposited in a hopper 34 (Figs. 4 and 6)resiliently supported by means of a number of leaf springs 35 fixed to aresiliently mounted vibrator base 38. In the illustrated embodiment base36 is attached to resilient rubber cushions 31 fastened to a pair ofcross-bars 38 mounted on a hopper supporting frame 39 secured to the bedplate 20 of the machine. Vibrator base It is equipped with lugs 40 onwhich, by means of studs 4|, is adjustably mounted a magnet supportingbracket 42 holding a magnet 43. An armature 44 is fastened directly to aing 45 on hopper 34 (Figs. 4 and 6). By increasing or decreasing the gapbetween the armature 44 and the magnet 43, the amplitude of thevibration can be changed to any desirable degree, thus making itpossible to feed from the hopper any type of short filler or scraptobacco with equally good results.

The bottom portion of the hopper I4 is provided with a transverse step46 which in effect separates the hopper into two'sections, viz., a rearstorage chamber 48 or portion in which a mass of tobacco is depositedand confined by a plurality of movable rakes 41, and a feed part 49provided with a distributing lip L over which a stream of tobaccoissuing from the storage portion is fed to the weighing mechanism 8|.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, two sets of rake barsare provided, and these are arranged in two rows. One set is adapted tobe moved relative to the other. The bars or fingers 41 are held at theirupper ends in suit able supporting and operating arms 50 and 5|.Preferably the length of the rake bars or fingers is such, and they areso located that they move transversely across the hopper directly infront of the step 46 and below the plane of the bottom of the tobaccoconfining chamber 44, so that they quite effectively act to prevent anytobacco from trickling out or otherwise moving from the confiningchamber unless the rake fingers themselves are moved transversely toallow the tobacco to feed from the hopper. In the illustrated embodimentarms 88 and 8| are mounted at their center portion for pivotal movementon a stud 82 which is secured in housing 88 supported by verticalU-shape brackets 54 and 88. Bracket 54 is'fastened to supporting frame39 while bracket 88 is mounted on a variable speed drive housing 88secured to bed plate 28. One end of operating arm 88 is pivoted to alever 51 and one end of arm 8| is pivoted to a lever 88. Both levers 81and 58 are loosely mounted on a stud 59 supported by housing 83. Lever81 carries a cam follower 88, while lever 88 carries a cam' follower 8|.Both cam followers 88 and 8| engage in the illustrated fashion (see Fig.6) with a cam track 82 of a cam 83 mounted on the upper end of avertical shaft 84 supported by bearings of bracket 85. During operationthe two rows of rake bars or fingers 41 are oscillated in oppositedirections, thereby scraping the tobacco pieces, which protrude throughsaid rakes, from the feeding face of the tobacco mass in the chamber,thus allowing more tobacco to be fed forward and insuring a betterremoval of the same from the feeding face. The action of the double rowof rakes also prevents the forming or passing of any lumps of scraptobacco and insures free leaf feed to the charge forming mechanism. Thestep 48 in the hopper 34 will prevent any tobacco from getting under theends of the oscillating rake bars 41 thereby achieving the importantobject of feeding a thin layer of scrap tobaccofrom the storage chamber48 of hopper 34 into the feeding trough 49 of the same. Another imand6). This variable speed drive in housing 88 is connected by conventionaldriving means (not shown) with the main gear drive in housing 29 (Fig.3). Ball clutch 81 is carried by a ratchet 88 which, when engaging witha stationary pivoted pawl 89 causes the disengagement of shaft 84 i fromthe continuously driven variable speed drive in housing 58 and therebystopping the oscillating motion of rakes 41 and 85 as will be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

The tobacco is fed from the mass within the storage chamber 48 by meansof rakes 41 on to the feeding trough 49 where said tobacco will portantfeature is that the bottom of hopper- 34 is shaped in such a manner andthe rakes are so designed that their lower ends retain the sameclearance from the bottom of the hopper at all times.

In order to prevent tobacco from spilling through the rakes 41 whileloading the storage chamber 48, an auxiliary row of shorter rake bars orfingers 85 is provided. These may be separately mounted, or as shown,may be adjustably fastened to the operating bar 5| (Figs. 6 and '7).These short rakes 85 also control the height of the feeding face of thetobacco mass confined by the rakes. This arrangement substantiallyinsures that tobacco can only pass through the spaces formed by the longrakes 41 while the shorter rakes 85 hold the rest of the mass back.Rakes 65 can be set at any desirable position by means of set screw 88(Fig. 6). This adjustable control of the feeding face of the tobaccomass is important as it permits the use of any size of short fillertobacco and still retains the important feature of feeding tobacco in athin layer from the hopper into the scale. During the operation of themachine the bottom portion of the tobacco mass within the storagechamber 48 moves towards the oscillating rakes 41 and 85 form a thinlayer T (Fig. 8). Due to the vibration imparted to hopper 34 said layerT will move over section 49 towards and discharge into a scale pan of ascale mechanism illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, l0 and 11. The scale pan ofthis em bodiment located below the mouth of feed trough 49, consists ofa vertical scale plate 18, each side edge of which is provided with alug 1|, arranged to engage individual pivots 12, which are mounted inscale arms 13, both of which are fixed on a scale shaft 14. The latteris provided with a pair of knife edges 15 resting in knife edge blocks18 fastened by means of studs 11 to a U-shaped supporting bracket 18mounted on a bracket 19 attached to the hopper supporting frame 39. Theupper portion of scale plate 18 carries a pair of studs 88 pivotallymounting a scale receptacle 8| forming, together with plate 18, thescale pan into which the tobacco T fed from the hopper is delivered. Itwill be noted that the scale is substantially wedge shaped in crosssection. This design is of importance in aligning the pieces of shortfiller tobacco entering the pan because the pieces, if not already inalignment enter the pan, strike the walls 18 and 8|, swing around intoalignment and fall to the bottom of the pan. To scale shaft 14 isfastened alug 82 carrying a threaded stud 83 which supports a movableweight block 84. The latter serves the purpose of balancing the scalepan as well as determining the amount of tobacco necessary to trip thescale pan. In order to prevent scale plate 18 from swinging, except whendesired, its movements are controlled by guide screws 85 and 88 (Figs.9, 10 and 11). Guide screw 85 is held by a lug 81 extending from one endof the U-shaped supporting bracket 18. v To lug 81 is attached a bracket,88 which supports the second guide screw 88. Bracket 88 also carries anadjustable stop lug 89 provided for the purpose of arresting thedownward movement of corresponding scale arm 13, thereby determining thelowest position of the scale pan and preventing it from dropping toolow. The ends of the U-shaped supporting bracket 18 carry a guide shield98 (Fig. 8) provided to avoid spilling of tobacco during the feedingoperation of trough 49.

As the thin layer of tobacco forwarded by the vibrating feed trough isfed into the scale pan just described, the latter trips when the desiredamount is deposited therein. As the scale pan trips, a mercury switch9|, connected in an electric circuit and attached to one end of scaleshaft 14, is swung through an are thereby causing the circuit leading tothe vibrator magnet 43 to be interrupted, thus causing the vibration ofhopper 34 and feeding of tobacco to the scale pan to stop. In order toprevent additional tobacco from discharging from the hopper into thescale pan after the same is tripped, a tobacco flow control plate 92swings downward and closes the mouth of feed trough 49 as soon as thevibration of hopper 34 is stopped. This plate 32 in the embodiment shownis electrically operated, and its action is governed through a circuitalso controlled by mercury switch 3I. Control plate 32 is attached to ashaft 33 supported by a pair of bearing brackets 34 mounted on theU-shaped supporting bracket II. On shaft 33 is mounted a lever 33 which,through a rod 33, is connected to a lever 31 secured to a shaft 33supported by a bearing lug 33, Figures 4 and 5, of

bracket 53. To shaft 33 is also fixed a bell crank lever I00, one end ofwhich, through a link I I, is connected with an armature I02 of asolenoid I03 mounted on housing 33'. Solenoid I03 is energized andde-energized through the circuit under control of the mercury switch 9|thereby causing the movements of armature I02 to control the operationsof plate 92. The other end of said bell crank lever I00 carries a lugI04 which is moved and when said solenoid I03 is energized and armatureI02 enters the same, will contact a finger I05 (Fig. 5) of pawl 33 andthereby disengage the latter from ratchet 33, thus allowing ball clutch61 to engage the variable speed drive in housing 56 with shaft 64 which,as described heretofore is the driving means for movable rakes 41 and65. Therefore, when the scale pan trips, mercury switch 3| causes theinterruption of the circuit to stop the vibrations of hopper 34, and

to de-energize solenoid I03, thus causing armature I02 to move upward,and effect the closing of the feed trough mouth by control plate 92. Thede-energization of the solenoid also causes a disengagement of lug I04from finger I05 of pawl 63. Since the latter is equipped with a tensionspring I06, as soon as released the pawl will move into engagement withratchet 08, causing ball clutch 61 on shaft 84 to disengage the latterfrom the variable speed drive and thereby also stop the motion of rakes41 and 35.

Subsequent to the tripp of the scale pan, the measured quantity oftobacco is discharged therefrom and transferred into a compressionmagazine. The guide chute consists of a pair of adjustably mountedstationary side guide plates I03. The front and rear walls of the guidechute, consist of a movable magazine gate H0 and a movable end guideplate III, the former and the latter moving in synchronism with eachother. Plate III is fastened to a flange II2 mounted on a shaft II3loosely supported in bearing lugs II4 (Fig. 9) of bracket 13. To shaftH3 is also fastened a lever II5 (Fig. 8) which through a link H3 isconnected to a lever II'I mounted on a shaft II8 supported by means ofnearing brackets II! attached to magazine side rails I mounted onmagazine bottom plate I2I supported by frame I22 secured to bed plate20. To shaft H3 is fastened the magazine gate IIO which is operated bymeans of a lever I23 (Fig. 1) also mounted on shaft II3. Lever I23,through a rod I24, is connected to a lever I25 mounted on a shaft I 28(Figs. 1, 8, 13 and 14) supported by bearings of frame I22. Shaft I26carries a lever I21 to which is fastened a crank pin I28 engaging with aslot I23 (Fi 8) of an arm I30 attached to one end of a connecting rodI3| (Figs. 1 and 3). The other end of the connecting rod is pivoted to acam lever I32 (Figs. 1 and 3) carrying a cam follower I33 engagingduring a part of each cycle of the machine with a cam lug I34 (Fig. 3)fastened to the main driving gear 32.

The magazine is formed by the bottom plate I2 I two adiustably mountedside plates I35 (Figs.

3 and 8), a stationary front end top plate I" (Fig. 8), the magazinegate IIO which oscillates on shaft H8 and a stationary rear end topplate I31. Top plates I33 and I3! are mounted on and supported by siderails I20 fastened to bottom plate I2I.

When the magazine is ready for a charge and the scale pan, holding thedesired amount of tobacco is to be tripped, magazine gate IIO swingsupward in the direction'indicated by an arrow in Fig. 8. During thismovement, magazi'ne gate III! with its free end engages a prong I33 onthe scale receptacle 8|, causing the latter to move from the scale plate10, thereby permitting the tobacco in the scale pan to discharge into afunnel formed by the magazine gate III), the end guide plate III andside guides H3. The plate III, of course, due to its connection to gateIIO has followed the same during its upward movement. (Fig. 1 shows thescale pan open with the magazine gate standing in upright position andplate III swung towards the vertical gate I I0.) This funnel shapedguide chute serves chiefly for the purpose of keeping the tobacco piecesin their longitudinal position which they assumed while being fed intothe scale pan, described heretofore. As gate IIO swings downward againtoward the magazine, plate I I I also rocks backward and away from thegatev IIII. In so doing the tobacco charge is evenly distributed andguided into the magazine. The scraping action of the end of gate IIOupon plate II I during this downward movement transfers said tobaccocharge in a most desirable manner and avoids the disturbing of theposition of the tobacco pieces. When gate I I0 has returned to itsnormal position a reciprocating plunger I33 operates to press the chargeC into a waiting charge transfer (Fig. 8).

In order to prevent the scale pan from swinging upward as soon as itscharge is released, the shaft II3 which carries back plate III isequipped with a lug I40 (Figs. 8 and 9) which, during the upward motionof gate H0 and plate III, engages with a roller I4I pivoted to a ing I42mounted on scale shaft 14, thereby holding the latter in an angularPosition and preventing the scale pan from swinging upward while themagazine is still open and the gate in an upright position. Thisarrangement has the object of preventing the hopper from starting tovibrate and from feeding a new charge before the magazine gate isclosed. As gate IIO disengages from prong I33 of the scale receptacle,the latter, due

to its own weight, will swing back and contact scale plate I0 again,thus making the scale pan ready to receive a new charge.

The scale'is chiefly employed for the purpose of maintaining the rightamount of tobacco in the magazine and of preventing over or underloading of the same. The guide chute has the object of guiding thetobacco charge from the scale pan into the magazine without changing thelongitudinal positions of the tobacco pieces during this transferoperation.

The reciprocating plunger I33 which compresses the tobacco in themagazine is equipped with a plunger rod I43 slidably supported by anoperating lug I44. To the free end of said plunger rod I43 is fastened ahorizontal trip bar I (Figs. 8, 13 and 14) carrying on its free end anadjustable trip stud I43. The upper portion of operating lug I44 carriesa turnable member I41 which on one end is equipped with a hand knob I48,while the other end is provided with a threaded extension I49 carrying9. lug I50 slidably supporting in its lower portion the plunger rod I43.Operating lug I44 is equipped with a pair of studs II by means of whichit is pivoted to a pair of brackets I52 mounted on an operating arm I53pivoted to a crank pin I54 (Fig. 3) held by a crank I55 mounted on shaftI56 supported by bearing bracket I51 secured to the lower side of bedplate 20. Arm I53 is slidably supported by means of a guide lever I58loosely mounted on cam lever shaft I59 supported by bearings of frames2I. Guide lever I58 is equipped with a cam lever I60 carrying a camfollower I6I engaging with a cam track I62 of cam I63 mounted on camshaft 33.

While cam lever I60 imparts oscillating motion to guide lever I58carrying the plunger operating arm I53, this motion of the lever istransformed into a reciprocating motion of arm I53 by the action ofcrank I55 connected to said arm by crank pin I54. For adjusting purposesthe crank pin is eccentrically mounted on a suitable hear-- ing of crankI55 (Fig. 3), thereby providing means for making extremely fineadjustments.

Plunger I39 is actually reciprocated from arm I53 through lug I44 andmember I41 by means of lug I50 which, during its forward stroke pushesagainst a spring I64 (Fig. 8) placed between said lug I50 and plungerI39. Said spring I64 is loosely wound around and supported by plungerrod I43. Spring I64 serves the purpose of tak ing care of any lostmotion and permitting arm I53 to freely complete its stroke regardlessof the amount of tobacco stored in the magazine, thus avoiding jammingin the magazine and assuring a more or less even amount of pressure ofplunger I39 upon the tobacco column within the magazine during eachforward stroke of said plunger. The backwark stroke of plunger I39 isaccomplished by means of lug I44 contacting bar I45 to which the freeend of plunger rod I43 is fastened. The pressure of spring I64 uponplunger I39 can be changed to any desirable degree by turning of handknob I48 of member I41, causing lug I50 to depress or release spring I64(Fig. 8). This valuable and desirable feature permits the use of scraptobacco of all types and sizes which may require a different pressureand density.

The rear end top plate I31 and the rear end of bottom plate I2I of themagazine (Fig. 8) are equipped with a number of fingers I65 (Figs. 8 andprovided for the purpose of allowing any tobacco which may be held bythe plunger between the top and bottom plates to fall therefrom and beremoved from the machine, thereby assuring that the plunger is keptclean at all times. In order to more positively remove such wastetobacco a funnel I66 (Fig. 8) attached to the rear end of the magazineand connected through a tube I61 to the pneumatic system of the machineconducts any tobacco pieces or dust deposited at the rear end of saidmagazine.

Trip stud I46 mounted on bar I45 is provided for the purpose of trippingor operating a control mechanism which is essential for checking theoperation of the magazine gate I I0 which in turn controls the dischargeof tobacco charges from the scale pan to the magazine.

This control mechanism, illustrated in Figs. 8, 13 and 14, consists of avertical control lever I68 which stands upright in the path of trip studI46. Lever I68 is pivoted toa stud I69 held by a hub I10 of supportingframe 39. This lever is equipped with a weight HI and carries on itslower portion a latch lock I12 (Fig. 8) engaging with a latch I13attached to a trip lever I14 pivoted to a stud I15 held by a hub I16projecting from supporting frame 39 (Figs. 13 and 14) Trip lever I14 ispart of a bell crank lever consisting of arms I11 and I18, to each ofwhich is pivoted a follower I19 and I80, respectively. Arm I11 isfurthermore provided with a weight I8I. In the space between followersI19 and I protrudes a lock finger I82 which, by means of stud I83 (Fig.8) is pivoted to arm I30, the free end of said lock finger also beingprovided with a recess I84.

When there is little or no tobacco in the magazine, the plunger I39during its forward stroke can move substantially the entire length ofthe magazine and stud I45 will trip control lever I68 standing in thepath of said stud since the latter is held by bar I45 which is mountedon the reciprocating plunger rod I43. The tripping of control lever I68will cause the disengagement of latch lock I12 from latch I13 mounted ontrip lever I14, thereby, due to weight I8I, causing trip lever to swingin such a way that follower I19 on arm I" strikes lock finger I82 andswings it about its pivot I83 to such position that the recess I84 ofsaid finger is located directly beneath the crank pin I28. As arm I30,through cam lever I32 and connecting rod I3I, during the next cycle ofthe machine moves upward again, recess I84 will engage with and seatcrank pin I20 therein, and upon continued upward movement, lever I21 onshaft I26 is taken upward also, thereby rocking the magazine gate IIO toopen the magazine to receive a measured charge of tobacco from the scalepan. After stud I46 trips control lever I68, which causes thedisengagement of latch lock I12 from latch I13, plunger I39 returns toits extreme rear position and, due to weight I1I, latch lock I12 comesto rest with its concave end surface I85 contacting the tripped latchI13. During the upward movement of arm I30 when recess I84 of finger I82engages with crank pin I28 oi lever I21, the side edge I86 of lockfinger I82 comes against contact follower I19 on arm I11, therebyaffecting an upward movement of trip lever I14 and causes a re-settingof latch lock I12 and latch I13. After the scale pan has delivered thecharge to the guide chute and magazine, the gate I I0 is closed again bythe downward motion of arm I30, the slot I29 of which engages with thecrank pin I28. During this downward motion, the other side edge I81 oflock finger I82 will contact the follower I80 of arm I18 (Fig. 8) and,since trip lever H4 is in locked position again, causes a disengagementof recess I84 of finger I82 from crank pin I28. In order to prevent lockfinger I82 from swinging too far one way or the other during its contactwith followers I19 01'' I80, arm I30 carries a stop pin I88 (Figs. 8 and13) which engages with a slot I89 in finger I82.

The control mechanism, just described, must be tripped every time beforeth magazine gate can be opened to admit a tobacco charge delivered fromthe scale pan.

When during the operation of the machine, suflicient tobacco is presentin the magazine, plunger I39 can enter only a short distance into themagazine and trip stud I46 of bar I45 on plunger rod I43 will not beable to engage and trip th control mechanism lever I68. In this case, asarm I30 moves upward finger I82 will not be rocked into position to seatpin I28 in recess I04 and hence lever I21 will not be moved to open gateIIO. Slot I29 in arm I30 allows the latter to move upward withoutdisturbance or action upon the crank pin I28 projecting through saidslot. The magazine gate II9, of course, remains closed and will not moveto open position until the magazine supply of tobacco reaches a point atwhich need for additional tobacco is communicated to and the controlmechanism is tripped again.

During each forward stroke of plunger I39, the latter pushes the tobaccocharge C into a charge transfer which, after the charge is cut off fromthe remaining tobacco column in the magazine by mean of a verticallyreciprocating knife I99, transfers said charge into a loop I9I of arolling apron I92.

The tobacco charge transfer consists of a housing I93 having a slidableejecting plunger I 94 mounted on a single rod I95 slidably supported bysaid housing. To one end of housing I93 is fastened a stud I96, Figures1 and 2, while to the other end of said housing is secured a stud I91.The latter is loosely supported in a bearing lug of guide sleeve I98 andstud I96 is loosely supported in a'bearing lug of guide sleeve I99. Thelatter as well as sleeve I98 are slidably supported by means of a pairof vertical operating shafts 299, also slidably supported by means ofbearings 29I (Fig. 2) of bed plate 29. Shafts 299 at their lower endsare connected by and mounted on a bridge bracket 292 which carries inits center por tion 9. lug 293 to which is pivoted one end of aconnecting rod 294, while the other end of the same is pivoted to a camlever 295 carrying a cam follower 296 engaging with a cam track 291 of acam 298 mounted on main cam shaft 33. Cam lever 295 is loosely mountedon shaft I59. Cam lever 295, through connecting rod 294 and bridgebracket 292, imparts vertical reciprocating motion to operating shafts299. The upper ends of the latter are also connected by a bridge bracket299 carrying by means of pivots 2I9, a knife supporting frame 2 to whichis attached the knife I99. The cutting edge of the latter is slightlyV-shaped and the lower portion of said knife is provided with twofingers 2I2 (Figs. 2 and 8) which are in steady contact with a ledgerplate 2 I 3 (Figs. 3 and 8). The latter forms an extension of themagazine bottom plate I2I and is supported by the magazine frame I22.

In order to facilitate adjusting or setting of the ledger plate 2 I 3,each end of the latter is equipped with projections 214 (Fig. 3), eachof which is contacted by a set of adjusting screws 2I5 (Fig. 1). Saidscrews 2I5 are supported by lugs 2I6 of magazine frame I22. In order toautomatically take care of wear and tear and to assure a permanent andgood contact of knife I99 with ledger plate 2I3, a pair of springmounted rollers 2" may be employed. These rollers engage with knifesupporting frame 2 at all times, and impart a steady tension upon knifeI99. The novel knife mounting makes it possible to remove the knife forsharpening or replacement without tearing down the whole assembly. Also,because of its arrangement, any obstruction in the tobacco, such as anail or other substance, will not break the knife, or otherwise damagethe knife since it can flex out of the path of the obstruction therebyobviating cutting into this type of hard, unyielding substance. Becauseof the provision of a small gap between the top plate I36 and the top ofhousing I93, knife I99 has room to flex in the manner above described.Each of rollers 2 I1 is pivoted to the forked portion of a lever 2 I 8,each of which is loosely mounted on a stud 2l9. The lower portion ofeach lever 2I8 is provided with a spring 229 (Fig. 8) supplying thetension to said rollers 2I1, thereby providing a better shearing actionto the knife I 99 upon ledger plate 2 I3. One of the studs 2 I 9 is heldby a lug of guide sleeve I 98, while the other stud is held by a lug ofguide sleeve I99. The latter is connected to sleeve I98 by means of abridge frame "I.

To stud I96 of transfer housing I93 is mounted a crank 222 (Figs. 1 and2) carrying a crank pin 223 which, during operation engages with avertical track 224 of a cam lug 225 held by a bracket 226 mounted on bedplate 29. To stud I91 of transfer housing I93 is mounted a cam lug 221(Figs. 2 and 12) provided with a track 228 with which engages astationary guide pin 229 held by a lug 239 of a switch housing 23Imounted on bed plate 29. To each of the guide sleeves I98 and I99 ispivoted a control rod 232 slidably supported by means of bed plate 29and frames 2|. The lower end of each of the vertical control rods 232project through a lug 233 extending from each side of bridge bracket 292(Fig. 2). Each of the rods 232 is provided with a stop collar 234.Around each control rod 232, between collar 234 and lug 233, is wound anexpansion spring 235.

' After the tobacco charge C has been pushed into transfer housing I93by means of plunger I39, knife I99, by means of cam lever 295 and bridgebracket 292, is moved downward, thereby cutting the charge in thetransfer from the tobacco column in the magazine. During this period thetransfer will remain in its horizontal position while being held bysprings 235 which expand during the downward motion of the bridgebracket 292 and hold rods 232 by means of collars 234 in their upmostposition; rods 232 support and thereby control sleeves I98 and I99 whichcarry the transfer. During the downward motion of knife I 99, but afterthe same has cut the tobacco charge C, a pair of vertically mounted,adjustable studs 236, held by bridge bracket 2 9, contact a pair of lugs231 (Fig. 2) of the bridge frame 22I, thereby forcing sleeves I98 andI99 to follow the downward motion of the knife mechanism, and naturally,causing the charge transfer to descend also.

During the downward motion of the sleeves and transfer, crank pin 223 ofcrank 222 enters the track 224 of cam lug 225, and cam track 228 of camlug 221 which is mounted on stud I93 engages with stationary guide pin229, thereby causing the transfer to move from a horizontal position toa vertical position by making an axial turn of after which the tobaccocharge carried by the transfer is discharged into a loop I9I of arolling apron I92 which may be of conventional design. In order toprevent any tobacco from sticking to or remaining in the transferhousing, a pusher arm 238 (Fig. 2) contacts the ejector rod I95, causingejecting plunger I94 to move downward until the same is even with theouter walls of the transfer housing I93. Pusher arm 238 is pivoted to astud 239 held by a lug of sleeve I99. To stud 239 is also pivoted a bellcrank lever consisting of an arm 249 and an arm 243. Arm 249 isconnected with 9. lug 242 of pusher arm 238 by means of a coil spring24I (Fig. 2). Arm 243 extends horizontally from its support and, duringthe downward motion of sleeve I99, con tacts an adjustable stud 244 heldby the stationary cam lug 225, thereby causing arm 249, through spring2, to press pusher arm 238 downward against ejector rod I95. A springmounted plunger 245, slidably held by a lug 246 of sleeve I99 keeps arm238 away from ejector rod I95, when arm 243 is not in contact with stud244.

After the tobacco charge is deposited by the transfer into the apronloop I9I, bridge bracket 202, through cam lever 205, moves upward again,which, of course, also affects an ascending of the transfer as well asof the knife I90. During this upward movement, cam lug 221, engagingwith its track 228 with guide pin 229, and pin 223 trailing in track224, swing the transfer again 90" from its vertical discharge positionback to its horizontal receiving position. Either pin 223 or 229 isengaged in its respective cam track at some part of the cycle of themachine, thereby insuring that the movements of the transfer will alwaysbe positively controlled. A great feature of the operating means andconstruction of this transfer mechanism lies in the positive guide andsupporting means the transfer has during any position or movement of thesame.

After the tobacco charge is deposited into loop I9I of rolling apronI92, a horizontally reciprocating rolling pin 241 rolls said charge intoa binder B (Fig. 1), thus forming a cigar bunch. Rolling pin 241 ispivoted at each end to a bearing lug 248 (Figures 1 and 2), each ofwhich is adjustably mounted on a forked supporting bracket 249 fastenedto a guide bar 250 slidably supported by means of a track formed by thelower portion I of a rolling table 252. Supporting bracket 249 and bar250 carry a stud 253, to the upper end of which is pivoted a camfollower 254 engaging with a cam track 255 (Fig. 2) in portion 25I ofrolling table 252. The lower end of stud 253, through an adjustable rod256 is connected with an oscillating operating arm 251 (Figs. 1, 2 and3) pivoted to a shaft 258 supported by bearings of frames 2|. Arm 251 isprovided with a lever 259 which, through an adjustable rod 260 isconnected to a cam lever 26I carrying a cam roller 262 engaging with atrack 263 of cam 208.

The rolling table 252 is mounted on bed plate 20 and is provided with asuction chamber 264 having a number of holes 265 (Fig. 1) leading to therolling surface of said table 252. Said holes 265 of course, correspondwith the customary perforations (not shown) in the rolling apron I92upon which the binder B is placed by the operator. The suction chamber264 is connected to a duct 266 formed by a channel 261 of bed plate 20(Fig. 3) and a channel 268 of magazine frame I22. The bottom portion ofchannel 261 is provided with an opening 269 (Fig. 8) to which isfastened a valve 210 (Figs. 1, 2 and 8), which, through a tube 21I, isconnected to a conventional suction fan (not shown) supplying suctionfor the scrap bunch machine. Valve 210 is provided with an outlet 212(Fig. 8) to which is connected the conduit I61 leading to funnel I66attached to the rear end of the magazine. Valve 210 is also providedwith a shutter plate 213 (Figs. 1, 2 and 8) mounted on a shaft 214supported by bearings in said valve. To shaft 214 is fastened a lever215 which, through a link 216, is connected with a lever 211 mounted ona shaft 218 supported in bearing lugs 219 (Fig. 2) of valve 210. Toshaft 218 is also fastened a lever 280 to which is pivoted a roller 28Ihanging in the path of a cam piece 282 attached to cam I63. When roller28I engages with cam piece 282, lever 280 is moved upward and therebycauses shutter plate 213 to move upward and to close the opening 269 ofthe suction channel 75- 266 which leads to the suction chamber of therolling table., When opening 269 is closed by shutter plate 213 thesuction supply to the rolling table is shut off, but is then directedthrough outlet 212 and conduit I61 to the rear end of the magazine. Theplunger I39 is then in its backmost position. As soon as roller 2!leaves the cam piece 282, shutter plate 213 drops, thereby clearingopening 269 and closing outlet 213, thus directing all suction throughchannel 266 to the rolling table, while the suction supply to the rearend of the magazine is entirely cut off.

One end of the rolling apron is fastened to the front end of the rollingtable 252, while the other end of said apron is fastened to an aprondrum 283. The latter is provided for the purpose of controlling theaction of the apron during rolling operation and through properadjustment a tight or loose Wrapping of the bunch can be achieved. Theapron drum 283 may be constructed and operated in the same manner as theapron take-up mechanism disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,442,200granted January 16, 1923, to V. J. Wahlstrom.

Apron drum shaft 284 engages with an adjusting head 285 (Fig. 3) whichis equipped with a shaft 286 carrying a sprocket 261 connected by meansof a chain 288, with a sprocket 289 pivoted on a shaft 290 supported byan arm 29I adjustably mounted on a stud 292 (Fig. 1) held by a hub onone of the main supporting frames 2I. Chain 288 is hooked to an arm 293(Figs. 1 and 3) pivoted on shaft I59. Arm 293 is provided with a weight294 and is equipped with a cam lever 295 which carries a cam roller 296engaging with a track 291 of cam I63.

The machine is equipped with an automatic stop switch 298 (Figs. 1 and3) in order to stop the entire machine after the completion of eachcycle of the same. This switch is mounted on a bracket 299 and isoperated by means of a spring mounted roller 300 projecting from saidswitch in the path of a cam lug 30I attached to cam I63. Upon contact ofcam lug 30I with switch roller 300, the latter, by means of switch 298,causes a break of the electric circuit, which tie-energizes a solenoid302 mounted on housing 29 (Fig. 3). The armature (not shown) of solenoid302 is connected with and operates the main clutch (not shown) of themachine supported in housing 29, The clutch preferably is of the sameconstruction and design as that disclosed in patent application No.183,405 filed January 5, 1938, by Henry H. Wheeler.

In order to start the machine again, the operator must depress a footpedal 303, causing a stud 304 on an arm 305 to press against a switchbutton 306 which will actuate switch 298 and thereby close the circuitagain. Foot pedal 303 and arm 305 are pivoted on shaft 258. An expansionspring 301 (Fig. 1), anchored between bracket 299 and arm 305, assuresthe return of i the arm and foot pedal, after the operator releases thelatter. Arm 305 is also provided with a stop screw 308 (Fig. 1) to limitthe upmost movement of the arm 305. Bracket 299 is supported by means ofshaft 258 and a shaft 309 held by frames 2|.

On switch bracket 299 is also mounted a limit switch 3I0 operated bymeans of a projecting spring mounted roller 3 (Fig. 3) contacting a camlug 3I2 attached to cam 208. This limit switch 3) is installed for thepurpose of preventing operation of the hopper 34 before the scale hascome to a complete rest, thus preventing starting and stopping of thevibration while the scale pan is still moving.

The machine is also equipped with a pair of balance springs 3| 3 (Fig.2)anchored to the bridge bracket 202 and bearing l. These springs areinstalled for the purpose of prevent ing the weight of the knife andtransfer mechanisms acting upon bridge bracket 202, from forcing camlever 205 and roller 206 to ridge ahead of the desired cam motion.

In order to prevent the accumulation of dust in the various mechanisms,the machine is equipped with a number of shielding plates 3I4. For readyaccessibility to the plunger and gate control mechanisms, the rear endof the hopper supporting frame 39 (Fig. 4) is provided with a hingeddoor 3I5. The machine may be also stopped by operating a manual switch3I6 (Fig. 2), mounted on switch housing 23L The rolling table 252 isequipped with a spring mounted, adjustable bunch holding finger 3| I(Fig. 1) into which the bunch is delivered by the rolling apron In Fig.16, a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical system of the machineis shown. By means of switch S, current is conducted from a suitableline to motor 22 which has a drive shaft 24 mounting a pulley whichthrough belt 20 engaging pulley 21 (Fig. 3) drives the shaft 23 whichmounts the pulley 21. The current for operating the several electricalelements of the machine flows through a circuit controlled by a manualswitch 3I6. Referring to Fig. 16, it will be seen that one side of thecoil of relay R is connected to one side of the line from wire 3". Theother side of the coil of relay R is connected through wire 32I, mercuryswitch 9| (which is mounted on shaft 14 of the scale pan as describedhereinbefore), wire 322, limit switch 3I0 and wire 3I8 to the manualcontrol switch of the circuit. The coils of vibrator magnet 43 and therake control solenoid I03 are connected in multiple, one side beingconnected to wire 322, as shown in Fig. 16, the other side beingconnected to one side of the contact of relay R. The other side of therelay contact is connected to line wire 3".

One side of the coil of clutch solenoid 302 is also connected to theline through wire M1, the other side is connected through wire 320,limit switch 230 and wire 3l9, to the manual control switch 3I6. Footcontrol switch 306 is connected in multiple with limit switch 238.

In the usual operation of the machine, the current through coil 302 willbe interrupted once during each cycle of the machine by limit switch 233which is provided with a cam follower 300 adapted to engage with cam I63mounted on shaft 33, having thereon a cam lug I so that at theconclusion of each cycle of operation of the, machine, lug 30I breaksthe contact of switch 238, opens the circuit, and through solenoid 302discontinues the operation of the machine and hence brings theentiremachine to a stop. To restart the machine or to maintain it incontinuous operation at the will of the operator, regardless of theautomatic operation of limit switch 298, a manual control is provided inthe form of switch 300 which forms a part of treadle mechanism 303, theswitch being mounted upon an adjustable rod 304, carried on arm 305 ofthe foot pedal lever 303 which is mounted on rod 258. Hence, bydepressing foot pedal 303, solenoid 302 is energized regardless of theoperation of the limit switch 200 and the machine performs its designedfunctions.

Mercury switch 9|, which is mounted on shaft "of the scale panmechanism, is in circuit closing position when the scale pan is emptyand returned to its tobacco receiving position after the disengagementof cam I40 and cam follower I4I (Fig. 8). The coil of relay R is notenergized, however, until limit switch 3I0 completes the circuit. Thecam 208 is provided with a cam lug 3I2 which engages with cam follower 3of a limit switch 3I0, and is timed in such a manner that the scale pancan come to rest in its tobacco reeiving position, as above mentioned,before switch 3I0 closes, in order to prevent possible double action ofrelay R due to bouncing of the scale pan. The contact of relay R in turncompletes the circuit to the vibratory magnet 43 through wire 323 andthe rake solenoid I03. When the scale pan tips and swings the mercuryswitch 3| into open circuit position, relay'R is de-energized and inturn interrupts the operation of the vibratory magnet and causes thetie-energize.- tion of the rake solenoid I03. This action causes acessation of feed of tobacco from the hopper 45 and of the movement ofrakes 41 through which tobacco is fed for discharge from the hopper intothe scale pan.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within thescope of the claims for the particular device selected to illustrate theinvention is but one of many concrete embodiments of the same. Theinvention is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details ofthe structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. Mechanism for feeding tobacco and like materials comprising a hopper,means for confining a supply of tobacco in said hopper, comprising aplurality of sets of rakeslying in substantially vertical differentplanes located for movement transversely of said hopper, one of saidsets of rakes being provided with fingers of differing lengths, andmeans for adjusting the length of the shorter fingers of said set.

2. In a cigar machine, the combination with a tobacco feeding hopperadapted to contain a supply of tobacco, of a measuring device locatedadjacent one end of said hopper, means for vibrating said hopper to feedtobacco into said device, control means associated with said device forinterrupting the feed of tobacco thereto, a compression chamber locatedbeneath said device, a trap door forming part of said chamber, means formoving said door to effect the discharge of tobacco from said device,and means controlled by the movement of said trap door for preventingfurther feed of tobacco to said device until said trap door returns toclosed position.

3. In a cigar machine, a weighing device, means for intermittentlyfeeding tobacco to said device, means for setting the capacity of saiddevice, a compression chamber located beneath said device and arrangedto receive weighed charges therefrom, a trap door normally closing saidcompression chamber, means for raising said trap door to effect thedischarge of tobacco from said device into said chamber, means forinterrupting the feed of tobacco to said device when its set capacityhas been reached, and means controlled upon movement of said trap doorto closed position for preventing the feed of tobacco to said deviceuntil said door has been moved to normally closed position.

4. In a cigar machine, the combination with mechanism for feedingtobacco to a bunch forming device, of a source of supply of tobacco, a

weighing receptacle of wedge shape cross section located adjacent saidsource and constructed and arranged to align tobacco pieces fedthereinto, said receptacle including a pivoted tilt member, a tripfinger mounted on said member, a compression chamber located beneathsaid receptacle, a trap door normally closing said chamber, and meansfor moving said trap door to engage said finger and eject the charge oftobacco from said receptacle into said chamber.

5. In a cigar machine, the combination with mechanism for feedingtobacco to a bunch forming device, of a source of supply of tobacco, a-

weighing receptacle of wedge shape cross section located adjacent saidsource and constructed and arranged to align tobacco pieces fed therein,said receptacle including a pivoted tilt member, a trip finger mountedon said member, a compression chamber located beneath said receptacle, atrap door normally closing said chamber, means for moving said trap doorto engage said finger and dump the charge of tobacco into said chamber,and a distributing plate movable in synchronism with said trap door toreceive tobacco discharged from said receptacle and distribute it insaid chamber.

6. In a cigar machine, the combination with mechanism for feedingtobacco to a bunch forming device, of a source of supply of tobacco, aweighing receptacle of wedge shape cross section located adjacent saidsource and constructed and arranged to substantially align tobaccopieces fed thereinto, said receptacle including a pivoted tilt member, atrip finger located on said member, a compression chamber locatedbeneath said receptacle, a trap door normally closing said chamber,means for moving said trap door to engage said finger and dump thecharge of tobacco intosaid chamber, and a locking member mounted forconjoint operation with said door to prevent the feed of additionaltobacco to said receptacle until the same has been returned to closedposition.

'7. In a cigar machine, the combination with a compression chamber, ofmeans movable in said compression chamber for compressing charges oftobacco to a predetermined density, a trap door normally closing saidchamber, a weighing device located above said compression chamber, meansfor intermittently feeding tobacco to said weighing device, means formoving said trap door to open said chamber and coact with said devicefor guiding and discharging a weighed charge of tobacco from saiddevice, a distributing plate mounted for independent movement beneathsaid device, and means for moving said distributing plate into the pathof tobacco discharged from said device to receive and distribute saidtobacco in said chamber.

8. In a cigar machine, the combination with a charge measuring chamber,a plunger movable therein, and a trap door normally closing saidchamber, of means for reciprocating said plunger at least once duringeach cycle of the machine, means for controlling the feed of tobacco tosaid chamber, said means including a trip finger carried by saidplunger, a trip latch arranged to be engaged by said finger whenever thesupply of tobacco in said chamber reaches a predetermined quantity, andmechanism made operable by the tripping of said latch for opening saiddoor and feeding additional tobacco to said chamber, said mechanismincluding a crank arm connected for operating said door, a pin carriedon the free end of said arm, a link having a slotted end, in which slotsaid pin rides, and a recessed finger pivotally mounted on said linkadjacent the slotted end thereof, a cooperating latch member and a camfollower mounted on said member for engaging said finger to positionsaid recess under said pin whereby said link will rock said crank andopen said door.

9. In a cigar machine, the combination with a charge measuring chamber,a plunger movable therein, and a trap door normally closing saidchamber, of means for controlling the feed of tobacco to said chamber,means for reciprocating said plunger at least once during each cycle ofthe machine, a trip finger carried by said plunger, a trip latchmechanism arranged to be engaged by said finger whenever the supply oftobacco in said chamber reaches a predetermined quantity, and means madeoperable by the tripping of said latch for opening said door and feedingadditional tobacco to said chamber. said last means including a crankarm connected for operating said door, a pin carried on the free end ofsaid arm, a link having a slotted end, in which slot said pin rides, anda recessed finger pivotally mounted on said link adjacent the slottedend thereof, a cam follower mounted on said mechanism for engaging saidfinger to position said recess under said pin whereby said link willrock said crank and open said door, means arranged to engage and unseatsaid finger thereby to interrupt the feed of additional tobacco, andmeans for resetting said latch mechanism.

10. In a cigar machine, the combination with a charge measuring chamberand means for feeding tobacco thereto, of a plunger movable in saidchamber to compress tobacco to a predetermined density therein, a gatenormally closing said chamber against the feed of additional tobacco,means under the control of said plunger for opening said gate and meansoperable by said gate for thereby effecting the feed of additionaltobacco to said chamber whenever the tobacco in said chamber reaches apredetermined quantity.

11. In a cigar machine, the combination with a charge measuring chamberand means for feeding tobacco thereto, of a plunger movable in saidchamber to compress said tobacco to a predetermined density, a gatenormally closing said chamber, mechanism under control of said plungerfor opening said gate to allow additional tobacco to be fed to saidchamber, said mechanism comprising, a trip latch lever, and a tripfinger on said plunger, means for moving said plunger to cause saidfinger to engage said latch when tobacco is needed in said chamber,means for operating said gate, means made operable by the tripping ofsaid latch to cause said gate operating means to open said gateand meansoperated by said gate for feeding additional tobacco to said chamber.

12. In a cigar machine, means for feeding tobacco, a device for weighingpredetermined quantities of tobacco, a measuring chamber having atobacco feed opening, a gate normally closing said opening, and meansfor preventing feed of additional tobacco to said device unless saidgate occupies its normal closed position.

13. In a cigar machine, means for feeding tobacco, a device for weighingpredetermined quantities of tobacco, a measuring chamber provided with afeed opening, a gate normally closing said opening, and means forpreventing the feed of additional tobacco to said device unless saidgate occupies its normal closed position, said means comprising anelectric circuit, a switch in said circuit carried by said device, a camfollower on said device, a cam associated with said gate, and arrangedto engage with said follower to maintain said switch open whenever saidgate is in open position.

14. In a cigar machine, a tobacco feed hopper, means for vibrating saidhopper to feed tobacco therefrom, a tobacco, weighing device, ameasuring chamber provided with a feed opening, a gate normally closingsaid opening, and means for preventing the feed of additional tobacco tosaid device unless said gate occupies its normal closed position, saidmeans comprising an electric circuit, and means for keeping said circuitopen and said vibrating means inoperative whenever said gate fails toclose said opening.

15. A device for use in a tobacco feeding mechanism comprising aplurality of rake members provided with sets of spaced fingers, meansmounting said members for movement in closely spaced substantiallyvertical parallel planes, and means for imparting relative movement tosaid members to move at least one of said sets of fingers back and forthpast the other to produce a controlled feeding of tobacco between theends of each rake member only between the fingers of each rake member.

16. In a cigar machine, a tobacco receiving device, means forintermittently feeding tobacco to said device, a compression chamberlocated beneaih said device and arranged to receive cha-ges therefrom, amovable member normally closing said compression chamber, means formoving said member into engagement with said dev.ce to effect thedischarge of tobacco therefi om into said chamber, and means forpreventing the movement of said device relative to said member whilesaid member is effecting the discharge of tobacco from sa.d device intosaid chamber.

17. In a cigar machine having mechanism for feeding tobacco to a bunchforming device, and a sour cc of supply of tobacco, a receivingreceptacle, means mounting-said receptacle for move ment beneath saidsource of supply to start and stop the feed of tobacco thereto, apivoted plate carried by said receptacle normally biased into receptacleclosing position, a pivot for said plate carried by said receptacle, 8.tobacco'receiving chamber positioned to receive tobacco from saidreceptacle, means on said chamber for opening said receptacle whenevertobacco is to be fed to said chamber, and means for locking saidreceptacle against movement on its pivot while the tobacco is beingdischarged therefrom.

18. Tobacco feeding mechanism for a cigar machine comprising a tobaccoreceiving chamber, a movable member normally closing said chamberagainst the introduction of tobacco, a normally closed receiving devicelocated above said chamber, and means carried by said receiving deviceand constructed and arranged to be engaged by said member to open saiddevice and effect the discharge of tobacco therefrom into said chamber.

19. Tobacco feeding mechanism for a cigar machine comprising a chargecompression chamber, a movable member normally closing said chamberagainst the introduction of tobacco, a tobacco receiving device locatedabove said chamber, means carried by said device and constructed andarranged to be engaged by said member for discharging tobacco from saiddevice into said chamber, and a guide member associated with said memberand movable simultaneously therewith away from said movable memher fordistributing the tobacco discharged from said device in said openchamber.

20. In a cigar machine, a hopper adapted to hold a supply of tobaccosuitable for supplying said machine for a substantial period of time,mechanism for confining said supply of tobacco in said hopper comprisinga support mounted above said hopper, a plurality of sets of rakespivotally mounted on said support and depending above said hopper,eachof said sets having spaced elongated tobacco engaging members, a rakedriving shaft located in said support, driving connections between saidrakes and shaft, means for vibrating said hopper to advance said tobaccoagainst said rakes whereby said supply of tobacco is held back by saidrakes, and means operative while said hopper is being vibrated fordriving said shaft to move one of said sets past the other to feedlimited quantities of tobacco from said supply between said members.

21. A tobacco feeding mechanism for a cigar machine comprising areceptacle having a generally horizontal part constructed and arrangedto support a bulk mass of tobacco sufficient to supply said machine fora substantial period of time, and an integral generally horizontaltobacco receiving and feeding part located in a plane generally parallelto said first-named part and therebelow, and an integral substantiallyvertical shoulder joining said parts, a plurality of open members eachhaving a plurality of spaced fingers mounted above said feeding part topermit the movement of tobacco therebetwcen and located adjacent saidshoulder with portions thereof below said first named part and adjacentsaid second named part for holding back said mass of tobacco on saidfirst named part, and means for effecting relative movement between saidreceptacle and members to advance said entire mass of tobacco againstsaid members whereby said members hold back said mass of tobacco againstuncontrolled movement of said receptacle, and means for impartingindependent movement to said members to move the same back and forthpast each other in front of said shoulder to effect the feed of tobaccoonly through said fingers from said first-named part onto saidsecond-named part.-

22. In a cigar machine a substantially horizontal open trough shapedstorage receptacle having an open feeding end constructed and arrangedto contain a bulk mass of short filler tobacco capable of supplying saidmachine for a substantial period of time, means for advancing said massof tobacco in a generally horizontal direction towards said open end, aseries of movable members supported within said receptacle and extendingsubstantially transversely thereof for preventing movement of said massof tobacco therefrom, means for mounting said members in closely spaceddifferent parallel planes for movement only transversely across the faceof said mass of tobacco held back thereby therebetween to control themovement of limited quantities of tobacco therebetween, a charge formingchamber, a movabledoor normally closing said chamber, means for openingsaid door to receive tobacco fed by said members from said receptacle,and means for stopping the movement of said members and advance oftobacco when a pre- 2,soo,sa1 I determined quantity of tobacco has beenfed from said supply.

23. An open tobacco feeding hopper comprising, a bottom materialsupporting section, back and side walls extending upward from saidbottom and forming therewith a material enclosing area constructed andarranged to hold a bulk supply of tobacco sufllcient to m ke a pluralityof cigars, and a discharge area lying in a plane inclined downwardlyfrom the horizontal, said bottom of said holding portion of said hopperbeing transversely and downwardly curved between said side walls andlying in a plane inclined downwardly from the horizontal in a directionopposite tothe inclination of said discharge area, a distributing lipformed on the discharge end of said discharge area, and a singleintegral substantially vertical downwardly curved connecting shoulderjoining said holding and discharge areas of said bottom extendingtransversely across the bottom of said hopper and separating said areasinto surfaces lying in different planes.

24. A material feeding mechanism comprising, an open receptacle providedwith an elongated bottom and material enclosing upstanding back and sidewalls constructed and arranged to hold a bulk supply of tobacco uponsaid bottom and within said walls, means for mounting said receptacle tosupport it with the bottom therein in a substantially horizontal plane,said bottom being provided with a single downwardly curved transverseconnecting shoulder forming an integral part of said hopper, anddividing said hopper bottom into a portion wherein that portion of thebottom bounded by said side and back walls is inclined downwardly andrearwardly from a horizontal plane towards said back wall and downwardlycurved between said side walls and a bottom tobacco feeding portionlying in a plane below said, first-named bottom portion and over which astream of tobacco may be fed, said feeding portion being downwardlyinclined from a horizontal plane in a direction opposite to theinclination of said first named portion, a discharge lip formed on saidfeeding portion, and means for vibrating said hopper to feed tobaccotherefrom.

25. A material feeding hopper of the vibratory type comprising, areceptacle provided with back and side walls rising substantiallyvertically from an elongated bottom surface having a discharge sectionand an integrally connected tobacco holding section arranged at an angleinclining downwardly and rearwardly from a horizontal plane between saidside walls towards said back wall to contain'a mass of tobacco, a'single transverse shoulder forming an integral part of said hopperbottom positioning said tobacco holding section vertically above saiddischarge section, said surface of said discharge section being inclineddownwardly from a horizontal plane in a direction opposite to theinclination of said holding section, means for resiliently supportingsaid hopper, and means for intermittently vibrating said hopper and themass of tobacco therein to feed a stream of tobacco with rectilinearpulsarelative to said hopper holding back said supply of tobaccotherein, means for moving said members back and forth past each otheracross said hopper, and means for vibrating said hopper during saidmovement of said members to feed tobaccoctherefrom, of a measuringdevice adjacent said hopper arranged toreceive tobacco fed therefrom,and means for stopping the movement of said members and said hopper whenthe capacity of said device has been reached.

27. In a cigar machine tobacco feeding mechanism, a receptacle providedwith tobacco enclosing walls constructed and arranged to hold a bulkmass of tobacco sufl'icient to supply said machine for a substantialperiod of time, said receptacle having an open discharge and and a rigidbottom supporting and feeding surface, said surface having a transverseshoulder formed therein and constructed and arranged to divide saidreceptacle into tobacco confining and feeding sections, movable rakespositioned above said surface adjacent said shoulder and extending belowthe level of said supporting surface for holding back said supply oftobacco on said supporting surface and controlling the feed of tobaccofrom said receptacle, and means for moving said rakes back and forthacross said hopper and past each other to separate tobacco from saidmass held in said hopper for delivery therebetween onto said feedingsurface.

28. In a cigar machine, the combination with mechanism for feedingtobacco, comprising a hopper including a receptacle provided withseparate tobacco holding and discharge sections con- I nected by anintegral transverse shoulder, an

open discharge end, of means for feeding tobacco therefrom, includinghopper vibrating mecha- -nism, and oppositely movable oscillating rakeslying in substantially vertical different planes located between saidsections and proximate said shoulder and having portions thereof belowsaid holding section moving at right angles to said opening for holdingsaid tobacco in said holding section and controlling the feed thereoffrom said hopper.

29. A tobacco feeding mechanism for a cigar machine, comprising a hopperincluding a receptacle provided with a generally horizontal tobaccoconfining surface supporting a mass of tobacco and a discharge surfaceconnected to said confining surface over which tobacco is fed in tionsup the incline of said holding section and onto and over said dischargesection.

26. In a cigar machine, the combination with a hopper adapted to containa bulk supply of tobacco sufficient to supply said machinefor asubstantial period of time, a plurality of sets of spaced parallelfeeding members lying in sublimited amounts therefrom, an open dischargeend, and means for feeding-tobacco therefrom, including substantiallyparallel sets of vertical oscillating rakes having tines located abovesaid surfaces and driving means for moving said rake tines at rightangles to the path of movement of said tobacco back and forth past eachother for controlling the feeding of tobacco from said hopper.

30. In a cigar machine having a device for formingbunch charges oftobacco; mechanism for feeding tobacco comprising a hopper adapted vtocontain a supply of tobacco suitable for supplying said machine for asubstantial period of time, means for feeding tobacco from said hopperincluding, means for vibrating said hopper, a plurality of oppositelymovable rakes having tines constructed and arranged to move insubstantially vertical parallel planes transversely to said hopper forcontrolling the feed of and separating stantially vertical planesmounted for movement the tobacco from said supply, and means foroperating said rakes while said hopper is vibrating to move said tinesback and forth past each other and thereby eifect the feed of a sub-

